STVV revisits Intertoto drama as Europese campaign begins

On Thursday, Sint‑Truidense V.V. (STVV) will launch its Europese adventure, with the first match set at the familiar Stayen stadium. More than twenty years after the Kanaries first tasted European competition, the club revisits the Intertoto Cup era and its most dramatic off‑field tales.

STVV’s opening fixture on Thursday marks the start of its long‑awaited European campaign. The game will be played on home turf at Stayen, the club’s historic ground.

Kanaries' Intertoto legacy

This is not the first time the club has hosted a European tie at Stayen. More than twenty years ago the Kanaries already participated in the Intertoto Cup.

In those early outings the Kanaries managed two exits from the competition. Both departures occurred within the Intertoto Cup framework.

The anniversary provides an opportunity to dig up the toughest stories from that period. STVV intends to bring those harsh memories back into the spotlight.

One notorious episode involved a flight on an Antonov An‑24 that sparked death fears among the travelling squad. The aircraft’s reputation for rough landings added to the anxiety.

Another incident saw a player suffer an overdose of tequila after a night out. The episode highlighted the excesses that accompanied the European runs.

A further scandal from that era resulted in a lifetime ban for a player involved in misconduct. The sanction remains one of the harshest punishments in the club’s history.